RAPAPORT... The Jewelry Information Center (JIC) unveiled the top ten story submissions to its "Ultimate Proposal Contest," which concluded the company's nationwide search for the best engagement proposal stories.  Now, the public may weigh in by voting for their favorite story in order to determine the grand prize winner, who will be rewarded with...

(RAPAPORT) Zimbabwe Standard: Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has once again barred a parliamentary team from touring the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Marange, a move that could cause further friction in the inclusive government, and fuel divisions within Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy was sche...

(RAPAPORT) BNamericas: Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez has proposed nationalizing the environmentally unsafe diamond and gold mining concessions in Bolívar state, the state news agency ABN reported. "Gold and diamonds are being taken out of the country without paying taxes. If we're going to produce these minerals, then it all must be nationalized in order to recover losses and do away with the...

RAPAPORT... New York Diamond Dealers Club (DDC) president Moshe Mosbacher and leaders of the local industry met with New York City's Deputy Mayor, Robert C. Lieber, to solicit municipal cooperation in ensuring that 47th Street thrives well into the future as the nation's key diamond and jewelry trading center. Mosbacher said, “The focus of the meeting was an open discussion with Deputy Mayo...

RAPAPORT... In February, the Tiffany & Co. Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and its campaign to save Cahuenga Peak in Los Angeles — the property that happens to be the location of the famous Hollywood sign. Today, Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner donated $900,000 to the campaign, which also received additional matching funds from ...

RAPAPORT... Rajesh Exports told shareholders that it had weathered  the economic downturn to emerge as a stronger industry player. During the past year, Rajesh Exports developed 6,000 new jewelry designs, resulting in orders of  more than $1 billion (Rs 4,600 crore). The company also increased the number of its Shubh Jewellers outlets to 25 and plans to add ...

RAPAPORT... The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) has launched an eBusiness Center, a new online networking resource where jewelers can identify JVC member service providers. The eBusiness Center can be found on JVC’s website — www.jvclegal.org — and will soon be available on JVC’s Facebook page. Members listed in JVC’s eBusiness Center abide by the association’s&nb...

RAPAPORT... Spanish and Russian language newspapers are reporting that a tycoon from Russia purchased the luxury jewelry firm Carrera y Carrera at some point over this past weekend.  The transaction amount and the name of the buyer were not disclosed in the reports. ussia's Business FM and Spain's  El Confidencial newspaper speculated that the buyer was a directo...

(RAPAPORT) Evening Standard: The Graff store manager who was held at gunpoint during a $600,223 (GBP 40 million) diamond heist helped plan that very robbery, a court was told today. Martin Leggatt was accused of helping to set up the crime as "an inside job for the insurance payout." The raid on the New Bond Street shop in August 2009 was one of a succession of robberies at Graff's stores in Lond...

(RAPAPORT) Nikkei:  Tiffany & Co. has begun marketing a new series of accessories featuring yellow diamonds in Japan, ahead of other markets. The new line consists of about 30 items, including rings and pendants. To make them more affordable, the company has included in the line items using a smaller amount of yellow diamonds: one carat's worth or less. Prices range from $2,125 (JPY 200,0...

(RAPAPORT) Orlando Sentinel: During a trip to a mall, some people lose their cell phone. Others leave a credit card at the counter. Chad Davis? He says he left $3 million in diamonds. As Davis tells it, he accidentally left the jewels under a table at the Florida Mall's food court during a shopping trip with his wife about three years ago. Three years later, the gems are still missing, lawyers ar...

RAPAPORT... De Beers is planning to keep its long-term diamond production well below the peak levels it achieved in 2008, before the global economic downturn set in, the Financial Times (FT) reported.   “Do we want to ramp production back up to 48 million carats, given the lack of availability in the future?” De Beers managing director Gareth Penny asked in an interview...

RAPAPORT... The Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America (DMIA) completed a strategic corporate agreement with Jet Airways through which members can utilize discounts on travel, as well as the removal of certain travel restrictions. This agreement is part of a comprehensive DMIA strategy to obtain significant discounts for its members in order to enhance the value of ...

RAPAPORT... Debswana, the diamond mining joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, is considering diversifying from diamonds as a means to boost revenues, Reuters reported. Boyce Sebetela, group manager in charge of corporate strategy, told a briefing that the company was in discussions but could not say with certainty which areas it was going to pursue. "We are still trying to f...

RAPAPORT... Super model Naomi Campbell stormed out of an interview when an ABC News reporter asked her about receiving a “blood diamond” from the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor. “I didn’t receive a diamond and I’m not going to speak about that,” Campbell said on first reference to the incident. As the reporter pressed, questioning if she had refused to cooperate with prosecu...

RAPAPORT... ALROSA is expecting to recover 102.3 million carats of diamonds before 2012 and forecasted rough diamond sales of $9.56 billion for this period. The Russian diamond mining company revealed its financial model for the group on Friday, following a meeting of its executive committee.An average production of around 34 million carats a year would be in line with ALROSA's...

RAPAPORT... The America's Best Jewelers Breakfast education series, presented by Stuller, will take place during the Couture show June 3-6, 2010, at the Wynn Las Vegas.  Starting off each morning at Couture, this daily facilitated breakfast panel and discussion group will address critical industry challenges and day-to-day issues. This seminar series promises to provide critical information a...

RAPAPORT... LJ International  will present at the The Ninth Annual JMP Securities Research Conference in San Francisco on May 11, 2010. Ringo Ng, chief financial officer of LJ International, will present at 8:30 a.m. PST and it will be available live online http://www.wsw.com/webcast/jmp10/jade/ "We are pleased to be part of the JMP Conference. As part of our ongoing efforts to widen i...

RAPAPORT... Hemsleys Joaillier of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada, is celebrating its 140th anniversary May 7-24, 2010. The retailer says it stays true to the company's founding principles by offering highest standards of quality, service and luxury while keeping a sharp eye on new trends. In celebration of so many successful decades in the business,  Hemsleys invited the local community in thi...

RAPAPORT... African Diamonds exercised its option to increase its stake at the AK6 diamond deposit in Botswana from 28 percent to 40 percent for a total cash consideration of $8 million paid to Lucara Diamond and Wati Ventures. The remainder of equity in AK6 is held by Lucara. John Teeling, the chairman of African Diamonds, said, "This is another significant step on the road to becoming a s...